The Dirt by Loam

LoamBio
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  • EARTH SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Brought to you by Loam, 'The Dirt' takes a closer look at how new technologies (particularly CarbonBuilder), science, and land management strategies can increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and turn your dirt into healthier agricultural soils. Dan Reid from the Loam talks to farmers as well as experts from Loam and the agriculture industry about the basics of increasing carbon build, integrating new technologies on-farm, and participating in SecondCrop soil carbon projects in Australia. 

Episodes

  1. Grower profile - Steve Nicholson - The first SecondCrop farmer

    11/13/2023

    Grower profile - Steve Nicholson - The first SecondCrop farmer

    Loam’s Dan Reid is chats with Loam's first SecondCrop grower Steve Nicholson, while at the Australian National Field Days at Borenore near Orange. Steve farms at Wirrinya, in-between Forbes and Grenfell in the central west of NSW. Steve spent many years as District Agronomist with the Department of Agriculture and has been farming at Wirrinya for the past 22 years. Steve is the first grower to partner with Loam in a SecondCrop soil carbon project, with the program launching this year. Steve applied CarbonBuilder Canola and CarbonBuilder Barley to his crops this year, and just begun harvest, eager to see the results in yield and soil carbon build. This episode covers: How the crops in Steve's Second Crop Soil Carbon Project are looking with harvest just begunBuilding soil carbon is a combination of several on farm practices with carbon builder a key cog in the wheelSteve had a tour through Loam's Soil LabWhat Steve's experience as the first grower in the first year of SecondCrop soil carbon projects has been likePlease send in your curly carbon questions to the team through twitter, facebook or instagram. Web www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    12 min

  2. 06/23/2023

    Carbon Projects explained - Torben Heinzel

    Dan talks to Torben Heinzel about all the Steps in a SecondCrop Carbon Project.  Grower Feasibility Survey, Meet with Loam, Mapping, Land Management Strategy, Eligible Land Management Activities, Contract with Loam, Register with the Clean Energy Regulator, Farm Emissions Profile, Baseline Soil Sampling, T1 Soil Sampling and ACCU credits. Link to Grower Feasibility Survey Calculation for soil organic carbon  Using a measure of bulk density the amount of carbon per hectare in a given depth of soil can be calculated as shown.  The amount of organic carbon to 10cm depth in soil with a carbon value of 1.5% and bulk density of 1.3g/cm 3 is: 15 (g C/kg soil) x 1 300 000 (kg soil/ha) = 19.5t C/ha or 1.5 x 1.3 x 10 = 19.5t C/ha Soil Carbon Project activities and eligibility requirements - Projects must introduce one or more of the following activities: apply nutrients to the landapply lime to remediate acid soilsapply gypsum to remediate sodic or magnesic soilsundertake new irrigationre-establish or rejuvenate a pasture by seeding establishing or pasture croppingestablishing, and permanently maintaining, a pasture where there was previously no or limited pasture, such as on cropland or bare fallowalter the stocking rate, duration or intensity of grazingretain stubble after a crop is harvestedconvert from intensive tillage practices to reduced or no tillage practicesmodify landscape or landform features to remediate landuse mechanical methods to add or redistribute soiluse legume species in cropping or pasture system, oruse a cover crop to promote soil vegetation cover or improve soil health or both. CER - Clean Energy Regulator ERF - Emissions Reductions Fund Soil Carbon Projects Factsheet  Land Management Strategy  Estimating soil organic carbon sequestration using measurement and models method  Understanding your Soil Carbon Project  Web www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    15 min

  3. 03/01/2023

    Grower profile - Stuart McDonald

    Loam’s Grower Communications Manager Dan Reid is out on farm at Canowindra, NSW with grower Stuart McDonald, who has entered into a carbon project with Loam to build soil carbon.  This episode covers: Why did you decide to go into a carbon project with Loam?Why is building soil health important?What is enterprise stacking?What would you say to a farmer who wants to know more about carbon?Please send in your curly carbon questions to the team through twitter, facebook or instagram.  Web www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    12 min

  4. 02/13/2023

    Building carbon in soil

    Loam’s Grower Communications Manager Dan Reid chats to Loam’s Carbon Agronomists Guy Webb and Phil Peterson at Loam's headquarters in Orange, NSW.  This episode covers: Do I need to change my management practices to build carbon?What change will make the most difference?Is there a ceiling on the amount of carbon you can build?What are the co-benefits of building soil carbon?Keep the questions rolling in!  Web www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    13 min

  5. 02/13/2023

    What does Loam's fungi actually do to improve soil?

    Loam’s Grower Communications Manager Dan Reid chats to Loam’s Carbon Agronomists Guy Webb and Phil Peterson. This episode covers: What does Loam's endophyte fungi actually do to improve soil?How long does carbon last in the soil?How fast can I store carbon?Please send in your curly carbon questions to the team through twitter, facebook or instagram.  Web www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    13 min

  6. 01/03/2023

    What's the dirt on soil carbon?

    Loam’s Grower Communications Manager Dan Reid chats to Loam’s Senior Carbon Agronomist Phil Peterson. Dan chats to Phil about some of the common questions that they hear from growers when discussing soil carbon.  This episode covers: What's the dirt on soil carbon?What is CO2e?Does tillage affect carbon stocks?Send in your curly carbon questions to the team through twitter, facebook or instagram.  Calculations Soil Organic Carbon (%) x 10,000 (m2) x Bulk Density (g/cm3) x soil depth (m) = Tonnes SOC/ha For more detail; https://www.soilquality.org.au/factsheets/organic-carbon For example: SOC 1.2% BD 1.3g/cm3 Soil sample depth 100cm 1.2% x 10,000 (m2) x 1.3 (g/cm3) x 0.1 (m) = 1560T/ha or a carbon build of 0.002%/yr 0.002% x 10,000m x 1.3g/cm3 x 0.1m2 = 2.6T SOC/ha/yr Web www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    8 min

  7. 12/02/2022

    How do you measure soil carbon?

    Loam’s Grower Communications Manager Dan Reid chats to Loam’s Senior Carbon Agronomist Phil Peterson. Following on from the previous episode, Dan chats to Phil about some of the regular questions that they hear from growers when discussing soil carbon.  This episode covers  How do you measure soil carbon?What’s the difference between Soil carbon & organic matter? Is carbon as important as NPK?Send in your curly carbon questions to the team through twitter, facebook or instagram.  Web www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    12 min

  8. 12/02/2022

    Intro to Loam - featuring co-founder Guy Webb

    The Dirt is a short form podcast hosted by Loam’s Grower Communications Manager Dan Reid.  In this introductory episode, Dan chats to one of the founders of Loam in agronomist Guy Webb. Guy has decades of experience in the Australian grain farming industry, and has a real passion for ensuring farmers have healthy soils now and into the future.  This episode covers  What Loam does Why the company was started Who the founders are that came together to form LoamHow Loam can help farmers build soil carbon and be paid for itWeb www.loambio.com Facebook www.facebook.com/LoamBio/ Twitter @loambio Instagram @loambio

    9 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Brought to you by Loam, 'The Dirt' takes a closer look at how new technologies (particularly CarbonBuilder), science, and land management strategies can increase soil organic carbon (SOC) and turn your dirt into healthier agricultural soils. Dan Reid from the Loam talks to farmers as well as experts from Loam and the agriculture industry about the basics of increasing carbon build, integrating new technologies on-farm, and participating in SecondCrop soil carbon projects in Australia. 

Information

  • Creator
    LoamBio
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2023
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Dirt by Loam
  • Show Website
    The Dirt by Loam